Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1896 — Race Day Sports. [ARTICLE]

Race Day Sports.

Last Friday was the day set for the third annual race meeting at the Rensselaer Stock Farm. The indications for a big day had been very favorable. Many good horses had been promised, and a big ball game between Lowell and MonticeUo had been arranged for, bat the heavy rains of Thursday and Thursday night defeated all calculations, and early Friday morning the managers declared everything off and notified the ball dabs not to come. A little later in the day, however, when it was seen that the weather would be fine, and that many people were coming in from the country, and as quite a number of good horses were here, a movement was originated to go on with the races. A combination of ten “dead game sprats” around town was formed, and assumed the management, and the following races were given: Five eights mile dash. Bob Ferrel, Lowden of Hammond, owner, Ist; Billy B, Rice Bros., Hebron, 2nd; Jolly Joe, Seymour, owner, 3rd, Asterlina, Whittaker Bros. Wheatfield, 4th. Half mile beats; Bob Ferrell Ist, Queen of the West, Whittakers’ 2nd, Jolly Joe, 3rd, Billy B 4th. Pony Race; Little Billy, Stoudt, of Remington, owner, Ist, Mollie Darling, 2nd, Bill, Jack Nichols, Rensselaer, 3rd, Shelly B, Bicknell, 4th. A match race between Harry A, Walter White, owner, and Nellie My Geo. Strickfaden, was won by Nellie Bly, by 2 out of 3 heats. A foot race between Gross and Wilson, both of Wanatah, was won by Wilson. An exciting accident occured in the second race. Billy B and Queen of the West fell in a heap and Queen had three ribs broken. The riders, who are always, among true sporting people, considered of little account in comparison with the horses, escaped without much damage. Other incidents were the throwing off twice, of the rider of all the winning races. He is a nine year old boy, weighs only 60 pounds, and la the son of Mr. Stoudt, of Remington. He is so small that he can not stop the horses and therefore they run sway and throw him off. He wsa thrown twice, as already stated, but not hart either time. He is s wonderful rider for his age, but it is a very dangerous thing to allow him to ride, and it onght not to be done. The paying attendance was about 400, while the number that stayed oat in the road and looked over the fence was estimated at considerably more than that number. The races and sports, or the expected races and sports brought in a large influx of the sporting ahd presumably gambling gentry. There was, in fact, a more than ordinarly huge attendance of these not altogether desirable citizens, many of them coming from Roby, Forsythe and other busted racing communities.